Very little research has been done to say that chocolate causes acne breakouts itself but, studies have shown that the occasional spike in high-sugar or high-fat foods can cause your body to form inflammatory reactions. These reactions cause your skin to break out or sore throats.

Cow’s milk, in particular, is the one to watch. Dairy cows are treated with artificial hormones that affect their milk supply. Researchers suggest that those hormones may throw your hormones off balance when you consume milk products, which could trigger acne. Also, milk products, when combined with high levels of refined foods and processed sugars, disrupt insulin levels and make skin more prone to acne.

While soya beans are nutritious on a whole, soya bean products like tofu and soy milk contain a certain amount of estrogen and adding more to your body could cause acne to happen.

White rice contains more carbohydrates and they tend to cause your insulin levels to increase rapidly. Such insulin spokes can cause your body to produce even more sebum. Sebum could eventually lead to clogged pores that will eventually cause either acne or oil bumps on your face.

Eating too much salt can cause your body to become dehydrated and when that happens, your body proceeds to retain water as a form of defense mechanism. When you’re not drinking enough water, toxins will remain in your body that could eventually lead to breakouts.

Research is mixed on whether greasy and fried food directly causes acne. But some say eating fast food regularly increases one’s risk of a breakout. Another reason why this could be a factor? Eating such foods gets grease on your skin, which can make an oily complexion worse, clogging pores and leading to an acne breakout.

Certain shellfish like clams and oysters are sad to be high in iodine and that could lead to skin irritation.

An alternative to sugar, agave contains fructose and when metabolised by your liver can cause collagen breakdown. Your skin will end up feeling drier and acne could start to form.

Not only are they high in carbs, potato chips can also cause collagen to break down on your skin resulting in wrinkles and breakouts.

While some fruit juices can be healthy, most of them contain more concentrated sugars than necessary and not enough fibre. Consuming enough fibre is important for ensuring that your skin doesn’t age prematurely. Opt for whole fruits or veggie juices instead.

Most white bread — which are refined carbs — contain a high amount of sugar. When blood sugar levels are raised, insulin levels follow suit. This can trigger acne growth by making skin cells grow more quickly and by boosting sebum production.

A popular dietary supplement, whey protein is rich in amino acids, which accelerate growth and division of skin cells. This may lead to breakouts. The amino acids in whey protein can also stimulate the body to produce higher levels of insulin, which has been linked to the development of acne.

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Text: Atika Lim, Additional reporting: Neu Weetee